Beautiful Losers

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Everyone hates a name-dropper but recently released film Beautiful Losers just couldn’t help itself. The film, currently only screening in the US, centres around one of the most influential art collectives in the States and even the world. Names like Ed Templeton, Jo Jackson, Mike Mills and Shepard Fairey have had a huge affect on shaping the ‘new pop culture’ from their origins in the urban environment through to their not-quite-art galleries. The film looks like it could be a bit wanky but is definitely saved by its celebration of the Do-It-Yourself culture and attitude.

Aaron Rose directs the fantastic travelling exhibition and book that brings together the works of these artists, of which, the film is a pretty simple extension. The story goes something like this… “That in the early ‘90s a loose-knit group of likeminded outsiders found common ground at a little New York City storefront gallery. Rooted in the DIY (Do-It-Yourself) subcultures of skateboarding, surf, punk, hip hop & graffiti, they made art that reflected the lifestyles they led. Developing their craft with almost no influence from the "establishment" art world, this group, and the subcultures they sprang from, have now become a movement that has been transforming pop culture.”
 
 
Looking at the film, you can see each personality quite intimately. And even if you’re really not such a huge fan of pop art, you’ll still appreciate the obsessive personalities of these particular creatives. Each artist reveals in their own way, a story of ‘becoming cool’ through their art and while they’ve always done what they love, they’re now being respected as the story-tellers of this generation.
 
Check out more Beautiful Losers.
 
Front page art by Shepard Fairey.